The anti-ICE demonstrations in and around Los Angeles have been “peaceful,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) claimed on Sunday, despite clear evidence of violent clashes with federal authorities.
Booker seemed to take a page out of CNN’s “mostly peaceful” playbook from 2020 after President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles over the weekend. Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — both Democrats — for not being able to contain the chaos as videos and media reports documented how demonstrators hurled rocks, concrete, and fireworks at federal officers and their vehicles.
“The reality is we see peaceful protests launching in Los Angeles,” Booker insisted during a “Meet the Press” interview on NBC. “And again, any violence against police officers should not be accepted. Local authorities can handle that. But remember, a lot of these peaceful protests are being generated because the president of the United States is sowing chaos and confusion by arresting people who are showing up for their immigration hearings, who are trying to abide by the law.”
Senator @CoryBooker thinks the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles — in which criminal illegals and violent mobs are hurling concrete projectiles at vehicles, lighting fires, and attacking federal law enforcement — are “peaceful.” pic.twitter.com/zdshuTeJdP
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 8, 2025
Sharing a clip of Booker’s comments, the White House’s “Rapid Response” account on X fired back.
Booker “thinks the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles — in which criminal illegals and violent mobs are hurling concrete projectiles at vehicles, lighting fires, and attacking federal law enforcement — are ‘peaceful,’” the account said.
Republican lawmakers who hit the talk show circuit on Sunday also dismissed the notion that the protests in Los Angeles should be characterized as nonviolent.
On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) said the demonstrators were “not just peaceful protesters,” contending the “riot” in Los Angeles was “not under control” as protesters were “throwing all types of objects at law enforcement.”
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), a military veteran, voiced support for Trump’s actions during a “Face the Nation” interview on CBS.
“It’s tragic to see what’s happening in LA,” Gonzales said. “I fought to give people the freedom to protest whatever the hell they want to, but what we’re seeing in LA are not advocates. We’re seeing anarchists, and the President of the United States should absolutely put down the mob as soon as possible. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
During his NBC appearance, Booker took a swipe at Trump, quipping that the president “talking to anybody right now about responsive law enforcement to protect people is hypocritical at best” because of matters related to January 6. He also warned that Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard without a request from Newsom would “only incite the situation and make things worse.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking on “Face the Nation,” defended the National Guard’s deployment to “provide security for operations and to make sure that we have peaceful protests.”
